Where those associated with Western films from around the world are laid to rest.

Friday, December 30, 2016

RIP Anne Graves

Los Angeles Times

December 29, 2016

November 15, 1940 - December 26, 2016 Anne Yarbrough
Graves died peacefully at Providence Saint Joseph's hospital on December 26,
2016 after a valiant but mercifully short battle with cancer. She was 76.

Annie was born November 15, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan
where she was a child actress and the four year old spokesperson for the
Pressel Sausage Company.

Dreaming of stardom, her family moved to California in
the 1940's and settled in Culver City. Attending Culver High in the 1950's,
Annie was known for being kindhearted and funny. Head Cheerleader, Girl's
League President, Homecoming Queen - she even dated the Captain of the football
team thus sweeping the high school Superfecta. Always a hard worker, she went
on to a modeling career at Robert Hall while working as a floral designer.
Along the way, she won several 1950's beach pageant titles including Miss
Culver City and Venice Surf Festival.

Acting, modeling and flowers would be the hallmarks of
her life and she made every setting she touched more beautiful, whether by her
creative designs or her charming, witty presence. While modeling, she worked as
Miss Clairol, and most amusingly as "Miss Naugahyde" at the Los
Angeles Auto Show, displaying with a graceful gesture (which she would later
repeat to great comedic effect) "my hat is Naugahyde, my dress is
Naugahyde, my shoes are Naugahyde and even my purse is Naugahyde!"

She earned small roles in several movies of the era
including cult favorite "The Magic Sword" with Basil Rathbone and
"Runaway Girl." She had recurring parts on both Gunslinger and
Bonanza and was killed by Indians a number of times before this sad and final
departure. In 1964 she met singer Glenn Yarbrough. They married in 1967, had
one daughter, Holly, in 1969. By 1971 they had "quit the biz" to sail
around the world on a 55-foot ketch they designed and built. During those years
at sea, Annie cultivated her talent for writing. Excerpts of her memoir of the
trip were published in the SSCA (Seven Seas Cruising Association) magazine. She
also wrote many rhyming stories for children and countless memorable poems for
friends.

In the mid-1970's Annie and Glenn co-founded one of the
first artist-run labels: Brass Dolphin Records. Annie produced Glenn's
"Live at the Troubadour" album and singlehandedly maintained an
international mail order company for a decade. Later in the 1980's, her many
years of floral arranging inspired her to start one of the first dedicated
custom gift basket stores in L.A. called "I'm a Basket Case" on
Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. Later, she enjoyed being one of the few
female designers at the high-end Flower Basket next door. Since 1964 she lived
in and lovingly cared for the Josef Van der Kar house in the Hollywood Hills.
It was built by the architect for his own family in 1940 and Glenn and Annie
were the second owners.

Annie dedicated her life to the maintenance of the house
and garden and her spirit will always dwell there. Until his death in 2002, Mr.
Van der Kar, who became a lifelong friend, always lava-rock waterfall planter
in his once spare living room design. But it was the mid-sixties after all, and
he lovingly absolved her of her architectural sins, often expressing gratitude
at her adoration of the house and grounds and preservation of his work.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Luther Eldon
and Marion Theresa Graves, her dear brothers, John Charles and Thomas Eldon
Graves, her ex-husband and lifelong friend, Glenn Robertson Yarbrough, and her
most beloved dog Nikolas. She is survived by her daughter, Holly Yarbrough
Burnett, son-in-law Robert Burnett, as well as many dear family and friends. In
lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Annie's memory to the Stanford
Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, CA
94305. Funds designated in her name will be used to preserve the history of her
beloved house in the permanent Van der Kar collection.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.